Berks County Tax Valuations Reported Up In All Districts

December 24, 1985|The Morning Call

Assessed valuation of taxable property has increased in each of Berks County's 18 districts, school real estate tax millages are up in 16 districts, and combined county, municipal and school tax millages increased in 65 municipalities.

Such were some of the findings of the Pennsylvania Economy League (PEL) in its annual analysis of school district real estate tax rates and property assessments.

The report indicates that the largest dollar increases in assessed valuations of taxable property occurred in Wilson ($1.52 million), Exeter Township ($1.29 million), Governor Mifflin ($1.50 million, and Wyomissing Area ($1.04 million). The largest proportionate increase was recorded in the Berks County portion of the Twin Valley School District - 5.6 percent.

The largest increases in school district real estate tax millage were recorded in the Fleetwood Area, 10 mills; Kutztown Area, 8 mills; and Tulpehocken Area, 8 mills. Hamburg and Reading millage remained the same.

The real estate tax duplicate for 1985 (the potential tax yield based on the millage and the taxable valuation) for the Berks portions of the 18 school districts totaled $79.1 million, which is $3.8 million or 5.1 percent higher than in 1984, according to the report.

The PEL report also indicated that county school districts are having the same problems with real estate tax administration that the PEL found in the county and in municipalities when it studied them in July.

Charles Watters, PEL executive director, said problems include the failure of assessed values to keep pace with market values and the resulting handicap most districts face in meeting financial demands; lack of equity, which in some cases has resulted in an increased number of large and successful assessment appeals; and the erosion of the tax bases by exemption of certain types of properties from real estate taxation.

"In view of these and other recurring problems regarding property taxation, it is imperative that the entire property tax system by improved," said Watters, who made the same recommendation last July.